Venting a little...Partner shuffles as he walks

@ellerbracke
Hi,
This is funny...sometimes. A lot of elderly (male and female) shuffle because of a host of aging , medical and balance problems. My very active, fast walking dad only dragged his feet at home. Mom always complained and he said he was tired. I can’t recall any young people doing that. But I have noticed that elderly men seem to do that more often. Also that seems to be a trait in men of all ages. My guess is that , when that happens, they are thinking about something and forget how to walk properly....sort of like doing two things at once.....and they can’t. Or, for some, maybe just laziness.
Would drive me nuts if I had to live with a shuffler.
Any daggers or shufflers out there ?

FL Mary

@imallears I am a shuffler. Have been most of my life. It's a habit. Keeping my feet close to the ground helps assure my balance; loss of balance is a fear of mine. In 2018, when a friend saw me walking on the treadmill at the gym she made a comment about not picking my feet up. My response? "I'm checking the grass for snakes". Works for me, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Rather than whining about shuffling, be happy that those we love are moving around at all.
Ginger

@ellerbracke, @imallears and @gingerw,

Believe it or not, shuffling is an early symptom of Parkinson's Disease (PD). I began "shuffling" and even dragging my feet in my late 40's. One neurologist told me he thought I was in the early stages of PD, but I really couldn't believe it because I just didn't think I was old enough. PD usually affects men more frequently than women (and is often not diagnosed until later stages) so please take it easy on all of us who are shuffling our way to old age.

There is a specific physical therapy program for PD, called Big and Loud (PD patients usually have short small steps as well as soft voices). The Big and Loud program teaches us how to walk with bigger strides and to speak-up. It is usually quite helpful.

@gingerw
Hi
Well, I wasn't whining but it would still drive me nuts living with one as @ellerbracke mentioned.
It's not always a medical reason. Good retort though.
FL Mary...never a whiner lol

@imallears I was answering your question if anybody else was a shuffler. My last comment was really for @ellerbracke

@gingerw, @imallears: Did not mean to belittle conditions that might make shuffling or dragging feet normal. Very simply - shuffling is very annoying to me, my husband does it when he “forgets”, and I am over-sensitized to the fact. I just wanted to have some support from people who are equally irritated by draggers. Not to start a discussion about underlying health issues. As mentioned, hubby is AOK. (Otherwise, of course).

@hopeful33250
Hello,

I knew about this particular symptom of Parkinson’s. What’s so great about the Mayo Forum is what we learn every time we log on.
I don’t think there are many people that I know who are aware of the medical reasons for shuffling and may attribute it solely to old age. I know that it was not a medical condition for my dad because he was a character in his own way and could be lazy about personal things. He used to laugh when my mom brought it up and I swear he did it intentionally at times just to get a rise out of her. He also didn’t tie his shoelaces a lot lol. Now I just learned about them Big and Loud program and I can go forward and educate others if the topic arises. How great is that .

FL Mary

I agree, @imallears. I always learn so much on Connect. Glad I could pass on some information!

@hopeful33250 I wasn't aware of this about shuffling . Thanks learned something new . Hoppe your doing well . Have a good night

My husband shuffles and it is annoying because it CAN be fixed. It IS caused from laziness and ignorance of not caring about doing anything about it.
Be gentle? No, it is not gentle they need, they need exercise to correct it and they need to care enough to do it for themselves and others.
My husband sat allot with his work through the years and then with his own free time of internet and television. Rarely did he exercise. I had to get after him just to start taking walks. He finally started, but shuffling got worse. He has to also build up his hips and thighs and torso so he can pick up his feet more. He is also bull-legged from sitting over the years with bad posture, droopy shoulders. He won’t listen to me. He is ignorant and I have no pity for it!! He is doing it to himself.
I learned how to improve my own posture, bull-leggednesd and knee problems with correct exercise that strengthened the areas that needed strengthened. It has helped me tremendously!!
Most doctors just want to do surgery and prescribe drugs - because that is how they make their money!!!
We have to use our own God-given common sense. When my knee was severe, I asked God for wisdom on how to heal my knees so I could run again and an exercise came to me that made sense cuz when he gives the wisdom, it will also make sense. I did it no matter how painful it was at first and just kept praising Him for no more pain and full recovery. I also had to “forgive” someone who hurt me and let it go to God.
My knee fully recovered with positive attitude and right God-given exercise. God continues to give me wisdom in what my body needs with exercise.
I use to have lower back pain too and now that is gone. I had to work away a nerve from my tailbone with stretches and certain hip rolls.
As long as we have a WILL with FAITH in GOD, with a positive attitude, then we can get better!!!!!